Reader's Ink discussion

How did the theme of gardening fit into the story line?

I see two veins where gardening played an integral part in the book. First, the gardens around town like at the cemetary, and the home gardens that Marcus and others took care of and were paid for their care.

On a stretch, Tabitha's Quilt was also a form/record/memory of gardening, and when I first started reading the book, somehow I just knew that that "book" was going to be well hid or disguised in such a way that all the people who had searched and searched for it would miss it. Great idea. By Truly knowing her plants so well, she could begin to see the connections to what the plants were and how they could help in healing process, or to put people out of their misery. Too bad they still don't have batches around so that we aren't playing Dr. Kavorkian, but for the people that honestly needed it could be relieved from their illnesses without having to suffer so very long.

I underlined a quote from Marcus about gardening that stood out to me:

"A garden is where you can find the whole spectrum of life, birth, and death. It's where poison meets nectars, where sustenance challenges rot. A garden, in short, is a theater for war."

Thinking about it like this, a garden is a very good metaphor for the outlook of many of the book's characters. Sort of an ashes to ashes, dust to dust kind of thing. To Truly, death and loss was a big part of her life, but she did not seem to dwell on it. She just kept moving forward. In the case of the Dyersons, they had no choice but to keep moving forward after August died.

I also loved Tabitha's quilt as record book! So clever. I underlined this quote too:

"Death is a kind of quilt in itself. We're all alive in this world together, and we're also all mortal, but when one person pulls his thread through to the other side, it can start a chain reaction you never in your wildest dreams saw coming. Maybe you'll be left with nothing more than an unholy knot to unpick. Maybe a new design. Sometimes a whole new perspective on yourself."

I found that passage to be so beautiful, maybe more so because I have made a few quilts. I am now wishing I had a bunch of family secrets to preserve within the fabric of a quilt!

Julie- just a thought- why not make a quilt to preserve family traditions? You may not have secrets- but you have history, culture and tradition!

I went to a quilting store just today and am preparing to make a memory quilt using T-Shirts, blue jeans and stuff like that. Hope it works, but it sounds like a fun idea.

Carol- t-shirt quilts are quite simple. I made on for my husband for Christmas this year out of all his old band shirts. He loves it! And it's really cool going through it with him and he talks about where/how he got some of the shirts.

I'll have to work on that... would be a fun idea!

Alisha - Would love tips on making a t-shirt quilt. I've talked to two quilting experts who told me trying to make a t-shirt would be a joke.

To get back on subject: The book ends with Marcus and Truly together, following several comments about how they are the ultimate example of opposites attracting. I'd say that extends to gardening: Marcus coaxes plants to life and takes care of them while Truly "kills" them and uses them for other purposes.

Lauren- I'd be happy to give you tips. If you have any questions- go ahead and email me. Alisha_joy@mac.com

The one I made is not quilted in the traditional sense- but is a collaboration of a bunch of t-shirts with a polar fleece backing. Really simple, but my husband loves it. Perhaps too warm for this crazy hot LA winter we're having though.